Bad fuel pump?

[vegaskyle]

So I was driving home today and my car just cut out while driving, all the electrical was working fine but the car wouldn't respond to the gas pedal, then it surged back to life and kept going only to do the same thin a few min later. I pulled over and shut the car off. I could turn the car back on but it wouldn't run for vary long and i could hear a whirling sound from the fuel pump. I removed the back seat and panel that coves the fuel pump. I can start the car and it will idle fine for 10-30 seconds then the fuel pump will start whirling and it will immediately die. I'm obviously getting spark, I pulled out the air filter and it wasn't clogged or anything so that leaves fuel. The only other thing worth mentioning is I just filled the tank about 25mi ago but it was from Chevron so I doubt it was bad gas. I don't get a strong fuel oder from under the hood either.

Does it sound like it's the fuel pump? Is there any way to check? Could it be a clogged filter or the like?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[urbancynic]

There is a method in the Bentley manual for testing the fuel pump.

Something like pulling off the fuel feed line to the rail and putting it in a jar, then running the pump for 30 seconds and measuring how much comes out.

Its been years since I looked at this, so your best bet is to take a look at the manual.

Also, unless you know its age, it never hurts to change a fuel filter.

In my experience, usually if a pump is bad, it just quits. However, if yours is noisy that can indicate that it is on its way out.

[vegaskyle]

There is a method in the Bentley manual for testing the fuel pump.

Something like pulling off the fuel feed line to the rail and putting it in a jar, then running the pump for 30 seconds and measuring how much comes out.

Its been years since I looked at this, so your best bet is to take a look at the manual.

Also, unless you know its age, it never hurts to change a fuel filter.

In my experience, usually if a pump is bad, it just quits. However, if yours is noisy that can indicate that it is on its way out.

I found a fuel filter at an auto parts store so I'm going to try that first. I haven't replaced it before and I know I should have I did just about everything else. I have the e36 bentley but not the e30 (m42 is only covered in the e36) so I'll check and see if it has the test in it. I also figured I could un hook the filter inlet and run the pump to see if anything was coming out, I just don't like the idea of pressurized gas spewing everywhere.

[vegaskyle]

Slight update...

I just got to the car to change out the fuel filter and see if that did the trick. I started up the car and it ran.... and ran and ran. I let it idle for about 5min and decided fuck it I'm only 5-10mi from home. I drove it home with no problem. The only difference is now its night time and only 90* or so where as earlier it was 107* and by far the hottest weather I've ever driven the car in. Could the heat have had anything to do with it? If so how?

Edit: The car showed no signs of overheating. The dial was dead center where it always is and the engine bay didn't seem excessively hot. The thermostat and coolant is about 6 mo old and the water pump less than a year.

[kid325e]

I just replaced the fuel pump in my car. It was really easy and i'm thinking that's your problem.

Start with the main relay and fuel pump relay. Sometimes those crap out over time and just need to be replaced, i'm putting my money on a fuel pump though.

[vegaskyle]

It may still be the fuel pump but I replaced the fuel filter the other day and the one I took off said "made in west Germany" on it so I'm sure it was over due. It's one of the things i meant to replace when I first bought the car but forgot about. It runs fine for now but if I have problems again Ill replace the pump.